Fastener driving apparatus



June 22, 1955 R J, MOSETICH 3,190,189

FASTENER DRIVING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1963 INVENTOR.

UnitedStates Patent 3,190,189 FASTENER DRIVING APPARATUS Ronald J. Mosetich, llomhard, 111., assignor to Fastener Corporation, Franklin Park, 11]., a corporation .of Illinois Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,635 12 Claims. (Cl. Bil- 423) This invention relates to a fastener driving apparatus and, a more particularly, to a fluidoperated fastener driving apparatus including means for preventing operation of the apparatus when a source of pressurized fluid air from the reservoir under. the control of one or more manually actuated valves. One problem encountered with this type of tool is a tendency for the tool to occasionally fire without actuation of the'control valves When the reservoir is firstconnected to a source of pressurized fluid, such as a line connected to an air compressor. In larger tools of this type, the inadvertent firing of the tool can result in. damage to the tool or injury to the operator. It appears that this inadvertent firing is due to the fact that the cylinder may be open when the air line is connected to the tool with the result that the piston is driven before the air build up in the reservoir is suficient to operate the fluid operated means to close the cylinder. Some attempts have been made in the past to correct this problem by throttling the air flow from the line into the reservoir to delay the pressure buildup therein. However, this throttling tends to retard the flow of air to the reservoir during use of the tool and canrreduce the speed at which the tool can be operated.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fastener driving apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is .to provide a fastener driving apparatus including new and improved means for preventing inadvertent operation thereof when the apparatus is connected to a source of pressurized fluid.

Another object .is to provide a fastener driving tool of the type having a cylinder directly placed in communication with an adjacent body of pressurized fluid by fluid operated means in which means are provided for supplying operating fluid to the fluid operated means prior to supplying fluid to the reservoir.

Another object is to provide a fastener driving tool of the type in which a cylinder is selectively placed in communication with an adjacent body of pressurized fluid by a fluid operated means in which communication between the source of. pressurized fluid and the reservoir is controlled by a valve means responsive to the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir.

Another object is to provide a fastener driving tool in which a fluid operated means for separatinga cylinder and a main valve to control the admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder is directly supplied with fluid whenthe toolis first connected to the fluid source and is thereafter supplied with fluid under the control of manually controlled valve means. 1

In accordance with these and many other objects and features of the present invention, an embodiment there of comprises a pneumatically actuated fastener driving 3,19%,189 Patented June 22, 1965 tool adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air or pressurized fluid by an inlet line. The tool includes a housing having a cylinder with an open end exposed to the fluid in an adjacent reservoir, such as that provided by a hollow handle forming a part of the tool housing. A main valve means normally closes the open end of the cylinder to prevent communication between the cylinder and the fluid in the reservoir. A fluidoperated means controlled by one or more manually actuated valves selectively places the cylinder in communication with the reservoir-by separating themain valve and cylinder.

To prevent inadvertent operation of the tool when the tool is first connected to thegair line, the fluid inlet to the reservoir in the housing is normally closed by a fluid operated valve, and additional means are provided for conveying the fluid supplied to the inlet directly to the fluid operated means. The fluid from the inlet operates the fluid operated means to close the'o'penendof the cylinder and is then bled into the reservoir. When sufficient fluid has been accumulated in the reservoir, the pressure thereof operates the inlet valve means to close off the conveying means for supplying air directly from the inlet to the fluid operated means and to place the fluid inlet in direct communication with the reser voir. In this manner, any inadvertent operation of the fastener driving tool when the air line is connected thereto which is shown in a condition immediately following the connection of the tool to a source of fluid pressure; and i FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to FIG. 1, illustrating thetool in a normal condition prior to operation.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, therein is shown a pneumatically operated fastener driving tool,

indicated generally as 10, which embodies the present.

invention and which is of any suitable construction. The

illustrated tool 10 is of the same general type as that shown and described in detail in Wandel and Doyle 'Patent No. 3,043,272. This tool drives or sets fasteners, such as staples or nails, using a compressed fluid as a power source and, in accordance with the present invention, includes means for preventing inadvertent operation of the tool 10 when it is first connected to the compressed fluid or air source.

' The tool 10, as described in the above-identified patent,

includes a housing 12 having a head portion 12a with an open upper end and defining both a lower. cylindrical piston 22.is adapted to engage and ,drive fasteners, such as staples or nails, supplied by a suitable magazineassem bly (not shown). 16 is closed by a removable closure cap 26 onwhich a resilientmain valve or valve seat 28 is carried.

In the normal condition of the tool 10, after it has been supplied with compressed air, a safety valve assembly 32 The open upper end of the chamber pressure to a source of compressed air, there is a possibility that in a released condition so that compressed: air is supplied to the lower end of the chamber 16 from the reservoir 18. This compressed air, forces the cylinder20 i toitsuppermost position'in which its upper end engagesthe valve seat 28 to close oif communication between the p i interior of the cylinder and the chamber 16. In this position, the. upper end of the cylinderZt) also actuates an ex haust valve assembly (not shown) carried 'on the closure cap 26 to an open condition in which the atmosphere is placed in communication with the interior of the jcylinder. The compressed air supplied to the lower'endof the chamber 16 also acts on thepiston '22 to holdjitin an elevatedor a'normal position.

When the two valve assemblies 32 and compressed air is no longer supplied to'the lower end'of the chamber 16*, and this portion of the chamber is con-- nected to the atmosphere. :This produces a downwardly acting force ditferential across the cylinder 20 so that the cylinder moves downwardly away from the closure cap 26jand the main valve means 28..

.valve assembly to close to prevent the compressed airin the upper portion of the chamber 16 from escapingto the atmosphere. The cylinder 20 also moves out of engagernent with the valveseat 28 so that fcornpressed air from the chamber 16 and the reservoir '18 enters the cyli. der 20 to force the piston 22 downwardly.

power stroke, the lower end of the driver blade 24 engages and sets thefastener.

V The piston 22 remains in its are released. The release of these valve assemblies sup- .plies compressedair to the lower portion of the chamber 16 from the reservoir 13 so that the cylinderfit) is again ioved'upwardly to engage the valve seat 28 and to close the exhaust valve assembly so that theinterior of the cylinder 20 is placed in communication with the atmospherejj The venting of the upper portion of the interior 7 ofthe cylinder 2t) together with the provision of com-f pressed air to the lower portion of the chamber 16 elevates the piston to its normal position. *The tool 19 re I mains in this condition until both of the valve'assernblies 32 and 34 arenext actuated.

p The tool operates in the manner described above when the reservoir 18 in the hollow handle 12b has been filled with a pressurized fluid or compressed air at full line However, when the ,tool '10 is firstconnected 32 and the manual valve ass'embly34. To :prevent this I inadvertentoperation, the tool 10 includes an inlet control assemblywhich is indicated generally as. 36 and which controls the sequential application of "the fluid to the operating means for closing the cylinder and then to the reservoir 18. I

. The inlet control means 36 includes a valve body 38 1 'which is threadedly mounted within .an opening 40 in .the rear end of the hollow handle 12b andwhich includes an internally threaded'portion 42 for receiving a quick detachable connector or. other means tor'connecting a 34 are actuated;

In moving downwardly, the upper end of the cylinder permits the exhaust;

Duringthis displaced. or lower posi tionjuntil such'time as both valve. assemblies 32 and 34.

'and a manually controlled valve assembly 34 are both is slidably mounted in a greater diameter cylindrical por tion 48 of the valve body. Sliding contact between the reduced diameter portion 44a and the bore 46 issealed by a resilient O-ring 50 carried on the valve body 38; and

the pis ton portiondlz is sealed within=the wall of the 7 larger bore or cylinder 4-8 by an O-ring 52 carried on the, valve element 44. A compression spring 54 interposedbetw een a shoulder connecting the bores;46 and .48 i

and the piston portion 44b of the valve member 44' biases the valve element 44 toward a closure plug-56 that is threadedly secured 'in'the outer end of the bore 48 on to the atmosphere.

7 merit 44. in the inlet control assembly 36 normally pro-- vents communication between the reservoir'lS and the the valve body 38 so that a tapered central portion 56a on the. plug 56engages and-is seatedin an axially extending opening 5% in the valve member 44.

ing 58 normally preventsthe flow of compressed air from the air line through the opening 58'to interior of the r servoir 18 through a plurality 'of peripherallylspaced openings 69 in the closure plug 56. Thus -the valve ele-' source of pressurized fluid or compressed air.

In its normal conditiomthe inlet controlmeans; 36 also includes means fordirectiy supplying compressed air from the source directly tojthe. fiuidoperated meansior i ,closing the cylinder 23 so as to insure that this' cylinder 7 :is closed and thatthe piston22is retracted. to its normal 7 condition before compressed air is supplie'd to the reser 'voir 18. through the threaded portion 4?. inthe normal condition of the assembly 36 .(FIG. 1) passes through a port or passageway 62 to a somewhat annular space'or cavity 64 in the rear-portion of theihollow handle 12b which is sealed from communication with the'reservoir 18 by an'O-ring 65 carried on the valve body 38., An inlet end of a fluid conveying means or pipe 66 is'disposed within the chamber or cavity 64 and an outlet end fib' thereofis disposed in communication-with thelower end of the chamber 16. Although the tube 66 can beiinserted in the housing 12 following its fabrication, thisitube is preferably cast in the housing 12 during the formation thereof;

The compressed air supplied the passageway 62 passes'through the tube; 66 and issupplied to the lower end of the chamber 16 as soon as an air line is connected to, the. tool 10 to provide means for moving the cylinder 20 upwardly so that its upper. open. end seats on and is closed by the main valve 28 (FIG. 2).

'This compressed air'also acts on the greater diameter,

upper portion of the piston-22 to retract the piston to Vthe'normal position shown in FIG. 2. In this manner,

flexible air line to'the tool 10. Toprovide means for con-' trolling the flow of air from-the inlet line t'o the interior of the reservoir 18,1the inlet control assembly 36 includes a valve element 44 formed of plastic material having both a reduced diameter cylindrical portion Ma thatis slidably mounted in a reduced diameter bore 46 in the valve body 38 and .a greater diameter piston portion 44!; that compressed air is first supplied to the fluid, operated means for closing the open UPPer'end of the cylinder 20 when compressed air is supplied to the .tool it).

.Thiscompressed air also passes from the lower :por-

tionof the cylinder "15 into the reservoir 18 through one or theother of the valve assemblies 32 and '34. Assum ing'thatthe safety valve assembly 32 is'in'the normal or'released position illustrated in the drawings, the com pressed air supplied to the lower end of the chamber '16 by the tube 66 flows through a passageway 68 in the housmg and upwardly through a passageway 70 in the safety valve assembly 32 around a resilient valve element 72 f in the assembly 32 to be discharged into the reservoir'ls.

This compressed air acts on; the left-hand end surface of the piston portion 44b of the valve member 44 so that when 'sufiicient compressedair has been supplied to the chamber"18,jthus?'indicating that sufiicientair has been provided for closing the cylinder 20,"the force of the compressed air in the'reservoir :18 overcomesthe. resilient 'bla S provided by the .spring 54. This shifts the valve "element t, from the normalposition shown in'FIG. l to A passageway 59 through the valve body 38 connects theportion of the. cylinder 48 disposed to the right of the'piston portion 44b The engagement of the tapered por 7 tion 56awith'the valve element 44 atthe end of the open- More specifically, the. compressed air supplied to the chamber 64 through the operated position shown in FIG. 2 which is determined by the engagement of the right-hand end of .the reduced diameter portion 44a with a flange 74 formed in the valve body 38.

In moving to this position, therbody of the reduced diameter portion 440 of the valve member 44 seals the port or passageway 62 to terminate the flow'of compressed air through the tube 66 to the fluid operating means for closing the cylinder 20. This movement of the valve element 44 also moves the end of the axial passageway 58 therein away from the tapered valve seat portion 56a on the closure 56 so that the passageway 58 is opened. Compressed air from theinlet airline now flows through the axial bore 58 and the plurality of peripherally spaced passageways 60 in the closure 56 into the reservoir 18 and providesa body of compressed air in the reservoir 18 at substantially full line pressure. This compressed air holds the valve member 44 in engagement with the flange 74 so that the passageway 62 remains sealed and the reservoir 18 remains in continuous communication with the source of pressurized fluid.

The inlet control assembly 36'remains in this condition (FIG. 2) until the source of pressurized fluid is disconnected from the tool 10. At this time, the compressed air in the reservoir 18 is discharged to the atmosphere through the opening 42, and the compression spring 54- shifts the valve member 44 to the left from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. In doing so, the tapered valve seat 55a again closes the axial bore 58 to interrupt communication between the reservoir 18 and the inlet to the tool 16, and the passageway 62 is opened so that when compressed fluid is next supplied to the tool 10 it is conveyed through the tube 66 directly to the fluid operated means for closing the cylinder 29.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single illustrative embodiment thereof, it

should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fastener driving tool for use with a pressurized fluid source comprising a housing having a hollow handle forming a fluid reservoir and a head portion with a cylinder having an end open to the fluid in the reservoir, main valve means normally closing the open end of the cylinder, piston means slidably mounted in the cylinder, fluid operated means for opening'and closing the end of the cylinder by producing separation of the main valve and the end of the cylinder, and control means for delaying the admission of pressurized fluidto the reservoir until the fluid operated means closes the end of the cylinder.

2. A fastener driving tool for usewith a pressurized fluid source comprising a housing having a hollow handle forming a fluid reservoir and a head portion with a cylinder having an end open to'the .fluid in the reservoir, main valve means normally closing the open end of the cylinder, piston means slidably mounted in the cylinder, means for selectively separating the main valve and the cylinder to admit fluid from the reservoir to the cylinder to drive the piston from a normal position adjacent the main valve to a displaced position, fluid means for returning the piston to its normal position, andcontrol means for delaying the admission of fluid to the reservoir until the fluid means returns thepiston to its normal position.

3. A fastener driving tool for usewith a pressurized fluid source comprising a housing having a hollow handle forming a fluid reservoir and a head portion with a cylinder having an end open to the fluid in the reservoir, main valve means normally closing the open end of the cylinder, piston means slidably mounted in the cylinder, fluid operated means for opening and closing the end of fastener driving means includinga piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, main valve means for closing the open end of the cylinder, fluid operated means selectively supplied with fluid from the reservoir" for producing separation between the main valve and the cylinder end to open and close the cylinder, means for supplying fluid from. the source to the fluid operated means to close the cylinder, and means for admitting fluid from the source to the reservoirfafter fluid has been supplied to the fluid operated means h I 5. A fastener driving tool for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housing with a hollow handle forming a fluid reservoir and with a cylinder having an endexposed to the fluid in the reservoir, fastenerdriving means including a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, fluid operated means for opening and closing the open end of the cylinder, first means for supplying fluid from the source to the fluid operated means, second means for supplying fluid from the reservoir to the fluid operated means, and means responsive to fluid in the reservoir for rendering the first means ineffective.

6. A fastener driving tool for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housing with a hollow handle forming a fluid reservoir and with a cylinder having an end exposed to the fluid in the reservoir, fastener driving means including a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, fluid operated means for opening and closing the end of the cylinder, first means for supplying fluid to the fluid operated means, second means for supplying fluid to the fluid operated means, and means responsive to fluid in the reservoir for rendering the first means ineffective and for rendering the second means effective.

7. The fastener driving tool set forth in claim 6 including at least one valve means in said second means.

8. A fastener driving tool for use with a source of pressurized 'fluid comprising a housing with a fluid reservoir and a cylinder having an open end, fastener driving means including a piston slidable in the cylinder, fluid controlled means for selectively opening and closing the open end of the cylinder to admit fluid from the reservoir, inlet valve means for supplyingfluid from the source to the reservoir and normally biased to the closed condition, and means for supplying fluid from the source to the fluid controlled means to close the open end of the cylinder, fluid from said fluid controlled means passing to the reservoir to operate the inlet valve means to connect the reservoir to the source of fluid.

9. A fastener driving tool for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housing with a fluid reservoir and a cylinder having an open end, fastener driving means including a piston slidable in the cylinder, fluid controlled means for selectively opening and closing the open end of the cylinder to admit fluid from the reservoir, conveying means placing said fluid operated means in communication with the reservoir, fluid operated valve means for controlling communication between the reservoir and the source of fluid, and means for supplying fluid to the fluid operated means to close the open end of the cylinder, said fluid passing over the conveying means to the reservoir to operate the fluid operated valve to place the reservoir in communication with the fluid source.

10. A fastener driving apparatus for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housing having a fluid reservoir and a cylinder with an open end, fastener driving means including a piston slidably mounted-inthe cylin-f der, fluid operated means for opening and closing the end of thecylinder, a valve controlled fluid passage .be

tween the reservoir and fluid operated means for controlling the application of fluid from the reservoir to the fluid operated means to control the opening and closingv of the cylinder, fluid operated valve means for controlling the admission of fluid from the-source to the reservoir, and means for supplying fluid to the fluid operated means independent of the valve controlled passage so that fluid end of the cylinder, a valve controlled fluid passageybe: tween the reservoir and the'fluid operated meansfor'controlling the application of fluid' from the reservoir to the fluid operated rneans to control the opening and closing 1 of the cylinder, fluidinlet means to thehousirig-connected 1t flows frornthe fluidoperated means to the reservoir to operate the fluid operated valve.

H. A fastener driving apparatus for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housingihaving a fluid means .to control the opening and closing 'of'the cylinder,

1 'conveying'rneans and toestablish communication-between 1 first fluid operated valve means responsive to the fluid in.

the-reservoir for connecting the fluid source to the reser' voir, and second fluid operated valve meansresponsive to i fluid in the rese'rvoir'fo'r connecting fluid operated means.

the fluid source to the 12., A fastener drivingapparatus for use with a source of pressurized fluid comprising a housing having afluid reservoir and a cylinder with an open end, fastener driving means including a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, fluid operated means for opening and closing the to the fluid source, fluid conveying meansflbet veen the fluid operated means and the fluid inlet means valve meansThermally/"preventing communication between the 1 fluid inlet means and-the reservoir and providing cornm'unication between the fluid inlet means and the fluid conveying means, and 'means responsive to fluid in the reservoir for operating said valve means to'prevent com: munication betweenthe'fluid' inlet means and the fluid the fluid inlet means and the reservoir.

V V I References Cited-by the'Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,606 7/26 Slater 914-276 7 If FOREIGN PATENTS 279,767 11/14 Ge'rmanyq 7 FRED E. :ENGELTHALER, Prin ary Examiner. 

2. A FASTENER DRIVING TOOL FOR USE WITH A PRESSURIZED FLUID SOURCE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A HOLLOW HANDLE FORMING A FLUID RESERVIOR AND A HEAD PORTION WITH A CYLINDER HAVING AN END OPEN TO THE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, MAIN VALVE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING THE OPEN END OF THE CYLINDER, PISTON MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE CYLINDER, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SEPARATING THE MAIN VALVE AND THE CYLINDER TO ADMIT FLUID FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE CYLINDER TO DIRVE THE PISTON FROM A NORMAL POSITION ADJACENT THE MAIN VALVE TO A DISPLACED POSITION, FLUID MEANS FOR RETURNING THE PISTON TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR DELAYING THE ADMISSION OF FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR UNTIL THE FLUID MEANS RETURNS THE PISTON TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. 